5 Steps On How to Get French Girl Bedhead

share it

We’ve talked about bedhead in great length—expert tips, its up-do counterpart, the best dry shampoos to help you make it to day two—and take it from us, we’ve learned a lot. That being said, we’d like to present the accumulation of our knowledge: a beauty editor’s tried-and-true, step-by-step guide to getting French girl texture at home.

1 of 16

Pick the Right Shampoo

You’ll get the best results if you pick a shampoo and conditioner that’s been formulated to deliver volume and texture, both of which you’ll need for a lived-in look. We like Bumble and bumble’s Surf Foam Shampoo ($24) and Fekkai’s Full Blown Volume Conditioning Foam ($20). No matter what, avoid the formulas in your shower that promise ‘smooth, sleek, or straight hair. Post-shower, add a dollop of mousse from root to tip for grip. We like Leonor Greyl’s Au Lotus Volumizing Mousse ($46) and Garnier Fructis’ XXL Body Mousse ($5).

2 of 16

Dry the Right Way

Rough dry your locks with a blow-dryer on high heat, or let your strands air dry. (Extra points if you’re working with day-two hair!) Once dry, finger comb your strands and blast your roots with a dry shampoo. Use a stronger formula if you have an oily scalp (like the Instant Dry Shampoo ($6) from Psssssst) or a lighter formula if you have normal to dry strands (like the Full Detox Dry Shampoo ($24) by Ojon). This will add fullness and movement—as well as preventing an oily scalp before it starts.

3 of 16

Add Bends

Think of this step as adding bends to your locks, not curls. How? Hold your curling rod or iron horizontal and wrap the mid-sections of your locks around the barrel for a few seconds, not letting go of the end of that section. Release, but don’t let go of the end of the section of hair with your hand. Instead, gently shake the curl loose as it cools, until you get a gentle bend. Repeat on each section of hair, going in different directions.

Add Volume

Once you have your bends, it’s time to add texture. The goal is to add dry, piecey texture that will give your hair definition, without taking away movement. Fine hair benefits from a matte volumizing spray, like Sachajuan’s Dark Volume Powder ($32), while thicker locks should use something stronger, like Bumble and bumble’s new City Swept ($29). To apply, tilt your head to one side to fan out your strands and spray through the middle sections. Repeat on the other side.

5 of 16

Set It

This style may not be precise, but it still needs to stay in place! No hairspray has a finer nozzle than L’Oreal Paris’ Elnett ($15). Translation? It will lock your look in place, without taking away the movement and texture you’ve worked so hard to create. Et Voilà!